//------------------------------// // Ch. 4 When I Come Around // Story: Changing // by Closer-To-The-Sun //------------------------------// Chapter 4: When I Come Around Celestia's sun rose of Ponyville, beginning a new day. Spike awoke to the rays of light peeking through the window and shinning across his face. Stretching his arms out, Spike climbed out of his bed and made his way downstairs. Twilight Sparkle was already beginning her morning reading. "Oh, good morning, Spike. How are you doing?" the purple mare asked with a smile. Spike was extremely sore from the work he did while assisting the Apple family at Sweet Apple Acres. "Really sore still from yesterday, but fine other than that, I guess," the dragon replied, forcing a smile to his tired face. He didn't want to add that he wasn't in a great mood. "I'm sure you'll feel better soon. But don't worry; it'll be an easy day for you. I just have one errand for you to run this morning," Twilight spoke with confidence to her assistant. Spike liked how that sounded. He could use an easy day after plowing fields. "Alright." "I just need you to get some herbal leaves, same errand as last time. Got it?" Twilight instructed. Spike nodded as he walked toward the door, "Got it. Be right back." The unicorn said something, but Spike was already out the door and didn't hear her. Spike was confident to not get sidetracked with this errand. If it meant that he would have an easy day in the library, he would get the errand done as soon as possible. When he arrived at Ponyville Square, Spike looked around for the herbal leaf cart that usually was around the area. Spotting the cart in the distance, the dragon began walking towards the merchant cart. He was stopped, however, when he heard a few ponies in the distant scream. Turning his head, he saw a number of ponies running away from something. Curious, Spike jogged forward to the running ponies. "Hey, what's going on?" Spike managed to ask one of the running mares. "It's a rabbit stampede!" the lime green unicorn spoke before she continued her running. "Rabbit stampede?" Spike asked himself. A yellow pegasus with a pink mane came into his line of sight. She seemed to be in a panic and it echoed in her voice, "Oh dear, oh dear….please little dears, don't run away. I'll fix your pen soon, I promise." Spike saw the pegasus and hurried over to her, "Fluttershy, what's going on?" "Oh, Spike," Fluttershy spoke with a tone of relief, "Thank goodness you're here. You see, the rabbit's cage broke and all of the rabbits escaped. I need some help to get them back….um….if you don't mind…." Spike was already afraid to reply, "Uh, I'm not sure. You see, I'm on an errand for Twilight right now and…." Fluttershy's eyes began to form tears as her lips became pouty. Spike knew better than to say no. "Alright, I'll help you out. What do I need to do?" A smile appeared on Fluttershy's face, "Oh, wonderful. I believe there are thirty-five bunny rabbits that escaped. I'll repair the pen as quickly as I can and you find them, okay?" The dragon was hesitant to respond, knowing he got himself into something insane, "….alright." "Oh, thank you ever so much, Spike," Fluttershy said as she headed back to her cottage and begin the repairs. Sighing after Fluttershy spoke, Spike began his quest to find all of the rabbits. ------------- Spike found all of the rabbits by the late afternoon. With the last rabbit in his arms, he rushed back to Fluttershy's cottage for the final time. Dropping the brown and white rabbit in the pen with the rest of the rabbits, the purple and green dragon fell onto his knees and then laid down on his back to look up at the multicolored sky. His body became even sorer than it was when he woke up the morning before. Fluttershy came into his line of sight and moved her lips, however, he couldn't hear anything. "I'm sorry, what was that?" Spike asked as he sat up. "I said thank you for helping me, Spike. And on behalf of the bunny rabbits, I thank you again," Fluttershy repeated herself. "Oh, not a problem. Just….tired," Spike replied. He paused before remembering his errand for Twilight. This time, however, he didn't panic. Instead, he calmly spoke, "Hey Fluttershy, do you know if the merchant carts would be closed by now?" Thinking, Fluttershy replied, "I think they are, why do you ask?" "Because now I'm in trouble."